It was a sad week as the world mourned for Elizabeth Taylor, movie icon, Hollywood beauty, and humanitarian. Here in Los Angeles, thousands visited her star on Hollywood Boulevard with flowers and prayers. Worldwide, social media enthusiasts viewed her videos on YouTube and left messages on the Elizabeth Taylor Tribute Page on Facebook along with thousands of her fans. I stared with sorrow at her Twitter page @DameElizabeth, where she sent her last tweet on February 9, 2011 about her Harper’s Bazaar magazine article, Elizabeth Taylor Talks with Kim Kardashian. Taylor was a regular tweeter and enjoyed staying in touch with her fans through social media.
On Thursday she was laid to rest in a private ceremony at Forest Hills Memorial Park, the same place her close friend Michael Jackson was buried almost 2 years ago. Although she suffered through a myriad of health related problems, Elizabeth Taylor represented class, style, and will forever remain on a pedestal that she so very much deserves.
One thing about Elizabeth Taylor is that she loved and she loved well. With only two Academy Awards to her name, yet eight marriages, I wonder if the numbers should have been reversed? Certainly Liz deserved an award for having faith in the institution of marriage, casting a wide net with a variety of seven husbands. She followed her heart when she divorced Richard Burton, only to remarry him again a year later.
Her last 15 years as an unmarried woman were devoted to her friends, humanitarian efforts, and collection of jewelry while she tossed the thought of marriage away.
Elizabeth Taylor was all heart. She loved her friends dearly and devoted her time and resources to AIDS research, at a time that most others looked the other way. I recall seeing Liz just two years ago at the Macy’s Passport event in Santa Monica, CA supporting AIDS research. Looking frail as she arrived in a wheel chair, she stood up and spoke to the crowd. Liz showed up and once again she gave her heart to the crowd and her cause. Unrecognizable as the woman who starred in Cleopatra, she chose to stay in the public eye to help others rather than hide from the years of wear-and-tear. Taylor received a special Academy humanitarian award for her work with AIDS research.
Her resume of husbands included:
- Hotel heir Conrad (Nicky) Hilton, 1950 (8 months)
- British Actor Michael Wilding, 1952 (5 years)
- Producer Michael Todd, 1957 (13 months)
- Singer Eddie Fisher, 1959 (5 years)
- Richard Burton, 1964 (10 years) and 1975 (1 year)
- Politician John Warner, 1976 (6 years)
- Larry Fortensky, 1991 (5 years)
Hollywood has lost many legends, but there were none like Elizabeth Taylor, who loved like no other. How ironic that this woman filled with heart, died of heart failure. May her star continue to shine brightly and may she rest in peace.
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